Wolfenbüttel’s main church, Beate Mariae Virginis is the first significant large-scale protestant church building in the world. The name of the church means The Blessed Virgin Mary and for this, the first grand-scale building in protestantism there were no historical models to follow.
Duke Heinrich Julius, who opened the path for the Reformation in Wolfenbüttel, commissioned the church and in 1608 the ducal master builder Paul Francke began work. The prerequisites were complex. On the one hand the construction must be fit for sermons and holy communion, on the other it should represent the magnificence and power of the dukes. It should also serve as a fitting burial place for the ducal family.
As varied as the desired purposes were the architectural elements within the building: characteristic features from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles were all to mix together in a magnificent Mannerist structure.
People of faith, as well as those interested in culture will be fascinated by the inside of the building as well. There is the splendid carved wooden high altar made by the great carver Bernhard Ditterich from Freiberg. In addition there is a pictorial representation of the Passion story, and the richly ornamented organ with its 53 registers.
The grave of the Court music master and composer Michael Praetorius is in the church too, though its actual location is no longer known. The builder Paul Francke as well as members of the ducal household are also laid to rest here, some in the first set of tombs, and some in the second. Today, only the second set of tombs are accessible.
Special exhibition: Michael Praetorius
Duke Heinrich Julius, who opened the path for the Reformation in Wolfenbüttel, commissioned the church and in 1608 the ducal master builder Paul Francke began work. The prerequisites were complex. On the one hand the construction must be fit for sermons and holy communion, on the other it should represent the magnificence and power of the dukes. It should also serve as a fitting burial place for the ducal family.
As varied as the desired purposes were the architectural elements within the building: characteristic features from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles were all to mix together in a magnificent Mannerist structure.
People of faith, as well as those interested in culture will be fascinated by the inside of the building as well. There is the splendid carved wooden high altar made by the great carver Bernhard Ditterich from Freiberg. In addition there is a pictorial representation of the Passion story, and the richly ornamented organ with its 53 registers.
The grave of the Court music master and composer Michael Praetorius is in the church too, though its actual location is no longer known. The builder Paul Francke as well as members of the ducal household are also laid to rest here, some in the first set of tombs, and some in the second. Today, only the second set of tombs are accessible.
Special exhibition: Michael Praetorius
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Openings
Price info
Due to high running costs of the building, we ask visitors for a donation of 1 Euro each.
Group tours cost 15 Euro plus 1 Euro per person
Public tours are free
Group tours cost 15 Euro plus 1 Euro per person
Public tours are free
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More information
Group tours of the church are only available when pre-booked by telephone in German or English.
Public tours of the church: 2nd Friday of the month, 5pm at the main door. The tour lasts an hour. No pre-booking is required
Public tours of the church: 2nd Friday of the month, 5pm at the main door. The tour lasts an hour. No pre-booking is required
Author
Lessingstadt Wolfenbüttel
Stadtmarkt 3-6
38300 Wolfenbüttel
Organization
